Collapsible synthetic resinous display container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible tubular display container formed of at least one sheet of planar flexible synthetic resinous material heat sealed along the longitudinal edges thereof to form a flexible tubular body. Bead-forming synthetic resinous means is heat sealed to the continuous end edges formed thereby. Planar end wall members are pushed against the bead-forming means to be resiliently and frictionally retained thereby. One of said end walls may be provided with cord means passing through the plane thereof to assist in closing the device, and subsequently serve as a carrying means.

United States Patent 1 Goldman I 1 July 24, 1973 COLLAPSIBLE SYNTHETICRESINOUS DISPLAY CONTAINER [76] Inventor: Yehuda Goldman, 509 FifthAve.,

New York, N.Y. 10017 [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 194,845

[52] US. Cl 229/21, 150/.5, 206/4534, 229/41 8 [51] Int. Cl 865d 3/04[58] Field of Search 206/4534; 229/3.5-R, 4.5, 5.5, 21, 41 B; 150/.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,974,825 3/1961 Ross206/4534 3,131,809 5/1964 Rudes 206/4534 2,226,178 12/1940 Page 229/41 B3,407,933 10/1968 Klein 150/.5 2,584,095 1/1952 Slaughter 229/3.5 R2,501,468 3/1950 Kelin 206/4534 2,335,293 11/1943 Meyer 206/45342,170,060 8/1939 Meyer 206/4534 2,192,716 3/1940 Rosefield 206/4534Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Stephen MarcusAttorney-Charles E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT A collapsible tubular displaycontainer formed of at least one sheet of planar flexible syntheticresinous material heat sealed along the longitudinal edges thereof toform a flexible tubular body. Bead-forming synthetic resinous means isheat sealed to the continuous end edges formed thereby. Planar end wallmembers are pushed against the bead-forming means to be resiliently andfrictionally retained thereby. One of said end walls may be providedwith cord means passing through the plane thereof to assist in'closingthe device, and subsequently serve as a carrying means.

2 Claims, 6 Drawlng Figures COLLAPSIBLE SYNTHETIC RESINOUS DISPLAYCONTAINER This invention relates generally to the field of displaycontainers, and more particularly to an improved tubular form thereofwhich may be stored and shipped in substantially planar condition,whereby a minimum of storage space is required.

Display containers of tubular type are known in the art, andtraditionally have been formed using relatively rigid cellulosicmaterials to form the tubular portion thereof, the continuous end edgesbeing headed or rolled over to form stops for cardboard end walls. Whilesuch containersare attractive, and may be produced at relatively lowcost, because they are inherently of a non-nestable type, and are notcollapsible, the cost of shipping the same, once manufactured has beenhigh. In addition, difficulty is encountered in storing the devices forthe same reason.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention toprovide an improved form of tubular container of the class described, inwhich the above mentioned disadvantage has been substantiallyeliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedcollapsible synthetic resinous display container, in which the tubularportion thereof may be formed of a flexible transparent or opaqueheatsealable synthetic resinous planar material, the free edges of whichare interconnected to form a tube which may be folded tofiattenedcondition when not in use.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improveddisplay container possessed of the above advantage, in which the cost offabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale,distribution and use.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, willmore fully appear during the course of the following disclosure, and'bepointed out in the appended claims; i

Inthe drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in elevation of a first embodiment of theinvention. 7

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the first embodiment showing the samein fully assembled condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in elevation showing a second embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective'of the second embodiment showing same infully assembled condition.

FIG.'6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane6-6 in FIG. 5. a

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the device,generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: arectangular side wall blank l1,first and second end walls 12 and 13, andfirst and second bead-forming means 15.

The side wall blank 11 is preferably of transparen polyvinyl chloride,and is bounded by side edges 17 and 18, end edges 19 and 20, as well asan inner surface 21 and an outer surface 22.

The end walls 12 and 13 are substantially similar, each being bounded byan outer surface 24, and an inner surface 25, and a peripheral edge 26.One of the end walls is provided with a central opening 27 for theengagement of a carrying cord 27a. I

The bead-forming means 14 and 15 are also made of a heat-scalablesynthetic resinous material, and are of strip-like configuration. Eachis bounded by an inner free edge 28 and an outer heat-sealed edge 29.

During assembly, the side edges 18 and 19 are heatsealed together, usingequipment well known in the art, this operation serving to abut the endedges 30 of the bead-forming means 14 and 15 to form a continuousinterior head at each end of the sleeve 31 formed thereby. Next, one ofthe end walls is positioned against the beadforming means, and thecontainer may then be filled as required. The second end wall ispositioned by passing the same through the respective beadforming means,and subsequently hand working the outer surface of the sleeve 31 toforce the peripheral edge thereof against the free edge of thebead-forming means. This action may be assisted by resort to the cord27a, which can be used to position the end wall in approximate location.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, asillustrated inFIGS. 4, 5 and 6 in the drawing, the device, generally indicated byreference character 40 comprises first and second rectangular panels 41and 42, respectively, each having upper and lower bead-forming members43 and 44, respectively. Each of these members includes an outer sleeve45 having an enclosed cord 46 therein maintained in position by aheat-sealed edge 47. The end walls 48 and 49 are captivated at thearcuate edges 50 thereof by a tab 51, so that they are permanentlyattached to the tubular sleeve. The walls 48-49 are of laminated type,including a fiber core 52, and first and second outer members 53 and 54,respectively, which are heat-sealed together at the periphery thereof toenclose the core ,52. The

cord 55 may be of molded type, including enlargements 56 which arepassed through an opening 57 to be secured thereby.

Assembly of the second embodiment is substantially similar to thefirst,the end wallsbeing erected, while remaining attached to the freeedges of the tube. Since the second embodiment is made of two pieces ofrectangular material forrning the tube, the flattening of the tube whenthe device is not in use is simplified.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A collapsible tubular display container comprising: at least oneplanar side wall, and first and second end walls; said side wall beingof heat-sealable, flexible, synthetic resinous material, and beinginterconnected along longitudinal side edges thereof to form a tubularsleeve; synthetic resinous bead forming means interconnected byheat-sealing to the continuous edges of sleeve at each end thereof; saidfirst and second end walls being of heat-sealable material, and ofarcuate configuration, including a tab portion which is heatsealed withsaid bead forming means to said continuous edges of said side wall tocaptivate the same; said end walls being swingable about said tabs toresiliently expand said side wall at said continuous edges, andfrictionally engage the same and rigidify said container.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said side wall isformed of polyvinyl chloride.

e s t s

1. A collapsible tubular display container comprising: at least oneplanar side wall, and first and second end walls; said side wall beingof heat-sealable, flexible, synthetic resinous material, and beinginterconnected along longitudinal side edges thereof to form a tubularsleeve; synthetic resinous bead forming means interconnected byheat-sealing to the continuous edges of sleeve at each end thereof; saidfirst and second end walls being of heat-sealable material, and ofarcuate configuration, including a tab portion which is heat-sealed withsaid bead forming means to said continuous edges of said side wall tocaptivate the same; said end walls being swingable about said tabs toresiliently expand said side wall at said continuous edges, andfrictionally engage the same and rigidify said container.
 2. Structurein accordance with claim 1, in which said side wall is formed ofpolyvinYl chloride.